Technical Staff Scribbles P.3: The New Standard for Mobile Streaming! Tried Mackie MobileMIX - Basic Performance Edition

Streaming is no longer something limited to only professional settings or studios. In this era, where live streaming can be done from anywhere with just a smartphone, mobile mixers that don’t compromise on sound quality or operability are in demand. Enter this product.

It’s “MobileMIX” from MACKIE! This article will focus on introducing the basic performance of the MobileMIX and thoroughly explore its appeal. First, I’ll explain what kind of product it is and who it is suitable for.

The first thing that surprised me when I opened the box was the compact size.
It fits in the palm of your hand, yet it has the solid, sturdy body characteristic of MACKIE.
The matte black chassis looks sleek and clearly conveys that this is professional equipment designed with portability in mind.

The controls are cleanly laid out, with intuitive knob placement that makes operation a cinch.
It’s also great that it supports USB-C connection for powering via a portable battery.

Let’s connect it right away and check how it feels to use!
The gear we’ll be using this time is these little ones!

MACKIE / MobileMix 8-Channel USB-Powered Mixer

MACKIE / CR3.5

MACKIE / EM-89D

It’s a real MACKIE lineup…
Since I had the chance, I tried out MobileMIX’s CH7/8 Bluetooth input feature with the audio source!
In practice, even though it’s small, it’s equipped with plenty of input terminals. You can connect a smartphone to CH5/6 or the front PRIMARY input to send and receive audio, so for streaming, just connect here and you’re good to go!

As for power, it also supports portable battery operation (USB Type-C), making wireless streaming possible. I think this is super convenient for outdoor streaming too!

Summary

What I felt from trying it out is: “Compact, yet truly MACKIE.”
The sound is surprisingly full for its size, and it’s extremely easy to handle.
For those who want both mobility and sound quality, such as smartphone streaming or outdoor recording, this unit is exactly it.

Sound Quality

Typical MACKIE thick and clear sound.
The mid-low range is solid, bringing vocals and acoustic guitar naturally to the forefront.
Although it only has a simple EQ—Low Cut (below 100Hz) and Low (80Hz)/High (12kHz)—the basic sound is so good that I have no real complaints about it!

Recommended For!

• Streamers who want high-quality live streaming using just a smartphone
• Creators who often stream outdoor live events or interviews
• Users who care about sound quality for singing covers or instrument performances
• People looking for a compact unit as a sub-mixer
• Beginners who want easy-to-handle equipment for starting streaming

What’s more—this compact mixer can flexibly handle a variety of streaming styles and uses, making it an easy-to-set-up PA device. That’s one of MobileMIX’s biggest appeals.
While “mobile use = limited functions” is often assumed, MobileMIX ensures solid sound quality, operability, and expandability!

I’ll stop here for now, but since it seems to have many more hidden features, we'll be taking a deeper dive into MobileMIX in the next article!